Ghana Rugby and the Ivorian Rugby Federation for the first of a historic tri-nations West African rugby tournament, have announced their squads after a Team Managers’ meeting in Elmina-Ghana at the Nduom Sports Stadium .
The match hosted which is being hosted by Ghana Rugby, is scheduled to kick off at 11 am Ghana time and it is the first of three matches.
The second match will be played at the same venue on Wednesday 31 July 2019 between Ivory Coast and Nigeria with the last match taking place on Saturday, August 3, 2019, between Ghana and Nigeria.
In the previous encounter between Ghana and Ivory Coast on May 11, 2019, at the same venue, the Ivorian Elephants narrowly beat the Ghana Eagles by 23 to 22.
The General Secretary of the Ivory Coast Rugby Federation, Bini Guy Roger, in a message to participants, said: “We are happy to take part in this tournament which is an opportunity offered to our local players to express themselves. We salute this great initiative and congratulate Ghana Rugby for its organisation. Ghana – Ivory Coast is a meeting of friendship, fraternity between our two nations and it is in this spirit that we approach this game. Good luck to all and may African Rugby win.”
For his part, the President of Ghana Rugby, Herbert Mensah, a message to the Ghana Eagles wished the players the best of luck and emphasised that it is all about living the values of Rugby on the pitch.
“When you wear that jersey, you are wearing it for your fellow players!”, Mensah said.
Even though Ghana Rugby has quite a few players in the Diaspora in South Africa and the UK the Ghana Eagles squad will consist of only local players except for one player from South Africa.
According to the President of Ghana Rugby, Herbert Mensah, the tri-nations tournament is the start of fulfilling his dream to establish a WARS (West Africa Rugby Series) that will in future include regular tournaments between men and women for both the fifteens and sevens formats of the Game of Rugby Union.
“We started playing with the WARS concept as far back as 2015 but the time was just not right to launch it then. The cancellation of the Rugby Africa Gold, Silver and Bronze Cups this year united the rugby nations of West Africa to re-look the development of rugby in the Region and this tournament will hopefully be the start of many exciting competitions to follow,” Mensah said.
Ghana-First XV:
1. Andrews Kwamena Amissah
2. Prince Boamah
3. Christian Percy Adamson
4. Calestus Bosoka
5. Micheal Arthur
6. Gideon Klugey
7. Dorfenyo Dorfenyo
8. Eric Tettegah
9. Richard Kwesi
10. Francis Kweku Mensah-Donkor
11. Solomon Baba Akumba
12. Michael Acquay
13. Jerry Danquah (SA)
14. Kofi Montchon
15. Abdul Jalilu Yussif
Substitutes:
16. Abdul Wahid Illiasu
17. Seidu Ibrahim
18. Jason Kweku Dzata
19. Lukman Yaya
20. Eric Acquah
21. John Donkor
22. Emmanuel Terakuu
23. Suwabiru Salim Amuzuloh
Coach: Lovemore “Dallars” Kuzorera
Ivory Coast-First XV:
1. Mohamed Sidibe
2. Arouna Bamba
3. Tiede Kone
4. Innocent Baouar
5. Mouhamed Barro
6. Tidiane Kamara
7. Louison Valentin N’zoko
8. Issa Bassono
9. Litto Jean Vincent Tete
10. Benjamin Paul Richard Maurice
11. Christian Renaud Eba
12. Semonnin Firmin Doue
13. Douho Gnonsio Firmin Kohon
14. Charles Lebon Zamble
15. Gniple Henri Gerald Gnirigba
Substitutes:
16. Alpha Diallo
17. Adama Camara
18. Mamadou Cherif Kone
19. Moustapha Berete
20. Brice Paul Arnaud Bollou
21. Odoukou Paul Arnaud Kamon
22. N’dri Attoumbre Kouakou Eric M’bra
23. Eby Jacques Arnauld Bomoua
Coach: Soumahoro Bakary
Match Officials: Match Referee: Mathias Bvepfepfe (Zimbabwe) Assistant Referees: Jeffrey Chiwanda (Zimbabwe) and Ishmael Adamah (Ghana)